wings and things

One-liners

by jmgoyder on September 27, 2014

Today, the nurse-in-charge told me that they were concerned early this morning because Anthony couldn’t formulate words and I said that I had noticed this too over the last week or so. Of course this loss of grip on language has been happening for some time and sometimes Anthony tries, fails and sighs in frustration and resignation. His incoherence now, however, is so impossible for me to interpret, that I have become very good at pretending to understand.

But then all of a sudden, he will come out with the most perfectly sarcastic one-liner that it cracks me up. This happened last week when the nursing home had the accreditation people in. Ants and I were interviewed by a lady who directed her questions at Anthony but, because he was a bit confused, I had to kind of interpret his answers, then double-check for his nod.

After the interview was over and Ants and I were alone again, he grimaced arrogantly, and said, clearly and coherently, “I think I was a little too enthusiastic, Jules”. Well, of course I cracked up laughing straight away but Ants just gave me an ironic look and punched his right fist into his left hand and began to smile his slow smile.

When my Mom couldn’t remember the right words to say she stopped trying but like you I just continued speaking to her believing that she understood ..just couldn’t respond. While it’s a one-sided conversation verbally, it’s just the way it ‘was’… Diane

There’s an interesting article on the BBC website about Parkinson’s and a smartphone app which a university in England is developing. They are recruiting people online to help with trials so you might be interested.